explaingit

iron-lan/tinyspectrum

Analysis updated 2026-07-26

5SwiftAudience · ops devopsComplexity · 2/5Setup · easy

TLDR

A macOS app that connects to tinySA Ultra spectrum analyzer hardware over USB, letting you capture, review, and export radio frequency scans with features like continuous scanning and peak hold.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      USB spectrum scanning
      Single and continuous sweeps
      Peak Hold overlay
      Multi-scan comparison
    Tech stack
      Swift
      macOS app
    Use cases
      RF signal surveys
      Audio wireless coordination
      Frequency interference detection
    Data handling
      Local storage only
      CSV and SDB3 export
      Shure Workbench compatible
    Requirements
      tinySA Ultra hardware
      macOS 14 Sonoma
      Manual launch approval

Code map

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What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Capture a one-time snapshot of radio frequency activity in a specific area.

USE CASE 2

Run continuous timed scans to build a timeline survey of RF signal changes.

USE CASE 3

Overlay multiple scans on one graph to compare RF activity across different times.

USE CASE 4

Export scan data to CSV or SDB3 files for use in Shure Wireless Workbench.

What is it built with?

SwiftmacOSUSB

How does it compare?

iron-lan/tinyspectrumalamofire/rdar-urlsessiontaskmetricsnilava/tabtype
Stars555
LanguageSwiftSwiftSwift
Last pushed2017-12-15
MaintenanceDormant
Setup difficultyeasyeasymoderate
Complexity2/51/52/5
Audienceops devopsdevelopergeneral

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

Requires a tinySA Ultra or Ultra+ hardware device, macOS 14 Sonoma or newer, and manual approval to launch the non-notarized app.

The explanation does not mention a license for this application.

In plain English

TinySpectrum is a macOS application built for use with the tinySA Ultra and Ultra+ hardware devices. These small devices are spectrum analyzers, meaning they measure radio frequency (RF) activity in a given area. The app connects to the hardware over USB and turns the Mac into a desktop scanning tool for capturing, reviewing, and exporting those measurements. It keeps all scan data and presets stored locally on the computer, rather than sending them to an online server. The application supports two main scanning modes. A user can perform a single sweep to capture a one-time snapshot of RF activity, or run a continuous scan that repeats sweeps at timed intervals to build a timeline survey. When running a continuous scan, a countdown timer shows when the next capture will begin. Users can also enable a feature called Peak Hold, which overlays a red line on the graph that remembers the strongest signal recorded at each frequency, never dropping down even if newer readings are weaker. To help users compare data, the app allows multiple saved scans to be displayed on the same graph using different colors. It also supports saving presets, so frequently scanned frequency ranges can be recalled with a single click. The resolution bandwidth settings, which control the level of detail in a scan, are linked to the timing intervals. The app adjusts these estimates automatically based on the frequency range selected, since scanning with finer detail takes longer over a wide range. TinySpectrum includes an export feature designed for compatibility with Shure Wireless Workbench, a separate audio management software. Single scans export as CSV files containing frequency and amplitude data. Continuous scans export as SDB3 timeline files with timestamps. Export filenames can include an approximate city name, but this location feature is entirely optional and the app does not upload any measurement data. Installing the app involves downloading a zip file from the GitHub releases page and moving it to the Applications folder. It requires macOS 14 Sonoma or newer. Since the app is not notarized through Apple's official developer program, the operating system may ask the user to confirm the launch in privacy settings.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Help me write a Swift macOS app that connects to a USB serial device and reads radio frequency measurement data continuously.
Prompt 2
How do I implement a Peak Hold feature in Swift Charts that overlays the maximum recorded value at each point on a line graph?
Prompt 3
Generate Swift code to export a timeline of sensor data as an SDB3 file with timestamps for import into Shure Wireless Workbench.
Prompt 4
How do I automatically calculate an estimated scan duration in Swift based on a selected frequency range and resolution bandwidth?

Frequently asked questions

What is tinyspectrum?

A macOS app that connects to tinySA Ultra spectrum analyzer hardware over USB, letting you capture, review, and export radio frequency scans with features like continuous scanning and peak hold.

What language is tinyspectrum written in?

Mainly Swift. The stack also includes Swift, macOS, USB.

What license does tinyspectrum use?

The explanation does not mention a license for this application.

How hard is tinyspectrum to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 5min to a first successful run.

Who is tinyspectrum for?

Mainly ops devops.

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